Goals for the perfect D.C. summer

It's easy to live in and near the District and forget to do "Washington things." So, I asked George Washington University rising juniorLauren French to share some of her summertime goals. Enjoy!

I never really enjoyed setting goals. But now that I'm spending the summer in D.C. and will (hopefully) have time to accomplish all those "only in D.C." activities I put off during the year, I sat down and set some. So while it may be summertime and we are all living busy instead of easy, here are my goals to get the most out of this city.

Take advantage D.C.'s locale and explore the East Coast
This may come to a shock for many East Coasters but I've never been to New York City. Now that I'm not bogged down with homework I can definitely escape and crash with some friends for about a $20 bus ticket each way. There are lots of other buses and day trips to make so try and get out of the Beltway a bit.

Find a completely new place via the Metro
For being a relatively compact city, D.C. has a lot going on. I've always made plans to try a new restaurant each weekend but somehow my friends and I always wind up at our favorite sushi spot. I'm hoping this summer to take the Metro to a random stop and just explore that neighborhood. Try it. Don't just stay in popular neighborhoods like Dupont and Georgetown. H Street, for example, is a lot of fun.

Read a book on the steps of the (insert name here)
It's touristy yes, but I've always wanted to spend a day tanning and reading a book on the steps of Lincoln Memorial or on the National Mall. Now that I have weekends without work, I'm going to play tourist a bit and lounge on some national monuments.

Ditch Trader Joe's and shop at local farmer's markets
Trader Joe's is great, no one is denying that, but D.C. also has a ton of farmers' markets during the summer. Not only will you be helping a local farmer but also it's a fun way to spend less money and be outside for the afternoon.

Find my wild side
No, I'm not talking about that kind of wild. D.C. has a surprising amount of green space. I'm hoping to take hikes in Glover Park or head out to Great Falls for some R&R in nature.

Remember that it is summer
As an intern you may work long hours but remember this is summer and you're also here to have a little fun! Make sure to use weekends and nights to your advantage. You can always watch TV during the school year.